Rockwell Group's Principal and Madrid studio leader shares how she came to work for her dream firm and why she wishes she had left Madrid sooner.

Welcome to Leadership Files, a DLN franchise where Members share what helps them run successful businesses, from daily routines to hiring rules. Eva Longoria is a Principal and Studio Leader at Rockwell Group's Madrid studio, where she has contributed to a diverse portfolio of hotels, restaurants, and residences across the globe. Some of the firm's most notable projects include Nobu Hotel in Barcelona, Spain’s first JW Marriott in Madrid, and the boutique Seda Club in Granada. Here, we learn more about Eva's career journey and leadership style.

What is the first important thing you do every morning?

I swim at a tennis club near my house.

What newspaper/magazine/outlet do you never miss an issue of?

Interior Design, Wallpaper.

What’s the most useful advice you’ve ever gotten in your career?

Be curious.

What’s one piece of advice you’re glad you didn’t take?

“Stay in Madrid.” I knew I wanted to go abroad and earned a BFA in Interior Design from New York’s Parsons School of Design, and I worked in Rockwell Group’s New York City headquarters from 1995-98.

How about the advice you didn’t take and wish you had?

I wish I had left Spain even earlier to study in the U.S. I first studied at Escuela de Artes Decorativas in Madrid, and when I got to the U.S., I had to “start over,” in many respects.

How did you know the time was right to start your own firm?

When I came back to Spain from New York, Rockwell Group did not have an office here, and there was no other firm I wanted to work for! I started my own firm, Marañón Longoria, before rejoining Rockwell Group when the firm opened an office here.

What’s the most effective way you motivate your employees?

Inspiring them to be curious.

How do you keep in sync with employees working remotely?

At Rockwell Group Madrid, we all work in the office!

What’s your first rule of smart hiring?

Be on the lookout for good energy.

What’s the most important trait of a good manager?

Being a good listener.

Who is someone whose business you admire in the design industry?

Of course, I admire David Rockwell. I was also a huge fan of David Collins, the Irish architect who passed away in 2013. His studio continues to be led by co-founder Iain Watson.

How about someone outside the design industry?

The pianist Vladimir Sokoloff. His career spanned seven decades, and he accompanied famous violinists, violists, and cellists.

This or that:

  • Open floor plan or closed offices? Open
  • Set desk or rotating spaces throughout the day? Set desk
  • Phone calls or emails? Phone calls
  • Morning or afternoon coffee? Morning
  • Reply to email throughout the day or tackle it all at once? Throughout the day
  • Orderly workspace or organized chaos? Orderly workspace
  • Physical pin board or Pinterest/Instagram? Physical pin board
  • Early mornings or late nights? Early mornings

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